Baylor Mock Trial Team Third In Nation

March 15, 2004

For the second year in a row the Baylor Law School Mock Trial Team won third place at the national finals of the Student Trial Advocacy Competition, sponsored by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA). The prestigious competition took place March 11-14 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Baylor team was composed of lawyers Eric Porterfield and Carolyn Tapie, as well as witnesses Chris Adamson and Andy Ryan. Before losing a split decision in the semi-finals, Baylor defeated teams from Harvard, Fordham and Stetson.

"I am very proud of these young trial lawyers," Powell said. "When you rise above more than 220 other teams from law schools like the University of Texas and Harvard, you may be rightly considered the best and the brightest. They have represented Baylor magnificently."

The national tournament matched the top 14 teams in the country, based upon regional competitions previously held across the country. In all, 224 teams from 124 law schools competed at the regional level.

The Baylor Mock Trial Team won first and second place at the regional tournament, held Feb. 20-22 in Houston. The two Baylor teams won their semi-final trials against the University of Texas and the University of Houston, to close out the competition.

Sixteen teams from the Texas law schools, as well as Oklahoma and Alabama, competed in the Texas regional. The two Baylor teams then faced each other in the final round, with the winner qualifying for the national tournament. The second-place Baylor team was composed of lawyers Bo Davis and Wes Lotz, as well as witnesses Keenan Boland and Jason Bernhardt.